Digital Commons Network^™

Stage Exit, Grady Munroe

LMU Theatre Arts Annual New Works Festival

An acting class struggles to free themselves from the room they are trapped in. Stage Exit is about the absurdity and horrors of being a student of theatre.

Multi-Attribute Characterization Of Polymeric And Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems By Column Switching Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Brady W. Drennan

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

Drug delivery systems (DDS) are an increasingly relevant technology, owing to their ability to provide controlled release and to enable the use of otherwise toxic or labile therapeutics. However, these modalities are complex, containing a multitude of species with diverse chemical and physical properties. Their characterization, which involves the assessment of critical quality attributes (CQAs), requires numerous analytical techniques. The high-throughput demands of the biopharmaceutical industry have driven the need to consolidate these characterizations into a single analytical method. Consequently, novel analytical technologies are needed to support multi-attribute characterization. A multimodal liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) system was developed to facilitate …

Structure–Property Relationships Mediated By Lone Pairs And Vacancies In Oxychalcogenides: A Combined Experimental And Theoretical Study, Hoa Hn Nguyen

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

Structure–property relationships in some oxychalcogenide materials are strongly governed by the interplay between stereochemically active lone pairs and anion vacancy formation. Through a combination of density functional theory (DFT), synchrotron and neutron total scattering and optical characterization, this work elucidates how local symmetry breaking, chemical substitution, and vacancy dynamics influence electronic and optical behavior across several lone pair-containing systems. In crystalline TeO₂, all three polymorphs exhibit wide band gaps with Te⁴⁺ 5s² lone pairs contributing significantly near the valence band edge. Oxygen vacancy formation is thermodynamically favorable and induces asymmetric charge redistribution and enhanced polarizability, supporting …

Volume 23, Santa Clara Journal Of International Law

Santa Clara Journal of International Law Masthead Archive

No abstract provided.

Challenge Based Learning For Social Entrepreneurship Education, Koen Depryck, Ilse Wambacq

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Challenge Based Learning (CBL) provides a promising educational framework for teaching social entrepreneurship, addressing the persistent gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature and theoretical frameworks, this paper demonstrates how CBL’s seven key elements-authentic challenges, stakeholder involvement, interdisciplinary approaches, student agency, work and life skills development, entrepreneurial mindset cultivation, and impact focus-directly align with and support core social entrepreneurship competencies. The integration of Kolb’s experiential learning theory, Santos’ social entrepreneurship framework, and Rogers’ innovation diffusion theory provide a basis for understanding how CBL can enhance social entrepreneurship education. Evidence suggests that CBL particularly …

Pediatric Hearing Loss: Screening For Developmental Delays Among Children With Hearing Aids, Kelsey Wallace

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Children with hearing impairments are at risk for developmental delay, and research has shown that children born with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) are at a higher risk for delays in motor, sensory, and social skills development. The literature points to an obvious impact of hearing loss on development, but also a lack of screening for this phenomenon beyond language development skills. A doctoral capstone project was conducted to pilot a process for the implementation of developmental screening for children with hearing aids (HAs), as well as subsequent therapy referrals and parent education, in collaboration with a hospital-based pediatric audiology department. …

Underrepresented Communities History Project, The Metropolitan Historical Commission

Profiles/Papers for the Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture

No abstract provided.

Toward A More Accountable And Inclusive Vision Of Health Ethics: Navigating Complexity In Contemporary Clinical Practice, Peter A. Depergola Ii

Journal of Health Ethics

Editor's introduction to Vol. 21, No. 1 of the Journal of Health Ethics.

The Ethics Of Student Attrition In Healthcare Education Programs, Kent Haina Jr, Peter A. Depergola Ii

Journal of Health Ethics

Student attrition is a problem in healthcare education programs, but there is little in the literature regarding the organizational ethics of lowering it. Some argue that lowering attrition is unethical, because it would lower academic and professional standards, potentially impacting patient care. Others say students deserve to make decisions about when to leave a course of study. However, these arguments ignore inequities in attrition, as well as the conflicts of interest in, and moral obligations of colleges and universities. Lowering attrition rates in healthcare education programs is inherently ethical because it levels the playing field for underrepresented minorities that disproportionately …

The Ethical Impermissibility Of Implanting Embryos That Carry The Genetic Markers For Deafness, Cat Mastalerz

Journal of Health Ethics

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is a reproductive procedure that involves testing embryos conceived by in vitro fertilization for genetic conditions, including cystic fibrosis, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, and controversially deafness. This paper examines the ethical dilemma surrounding parents using this technology to select for and choose to implant an embryo that carries the genetic markers for deafness. Disability and impairment are discussed, followed by an in-depth analysis of the role of Deaf culture, including the perspective of hearing children of deaf adults. The effect of deafness on life opportunities is then viewed through the lens of the child’s right to an open …

Characterization Of Cancer Cell Migration Through Brain Vascular Endothelium Model, Malak Taysser Al-Noubani

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

One of the hallmarks of cancer is increased vessel growth to feed the tumor’s rapid expansion. The newly formed blood vessels are immature and often leaky due to structural and functional abnormalities. This leads to ineffective anti-cancer drug delivery and provides tumor cells with additional opportunities to metastasize. We propose to develop an in vitro vascular endothelium model and introduce aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells to mimic the tumor environment, utilizing a Transwell migration assay. The impact of TNBC cells on vessel permeability will be assessed by staining for tight junction proteins, and the migratory capabilities of TNBC cells …

The Gender Gap In Crime Perception: Exploring How Severity And Stereotypes Influence Individuals, Brianna P. Sexton

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

While research has shown gender differences in emotional and moral responses to crime, few studies have examined how factors such as crime severity, perpetrator gender, and monetary value interact to shape these perceptions. The present study explores these relationships in an area with limited prior investigation, contributing to a broader understanding of gendered moral judgment. Participants completed a survey featuring twelve randomized scenarios that varied in crime severity, perpetrator gender, and stolen item value. They rated their levels of trust, sympathy, and willingness to help after each scenario. This design allowed for a nuanced exploration of how moral and emotional …

Enhancing Wellbeing Through Caregiver Support: Improving Quality Of Life For Individuals With Special Needs And Complex Medical Diagnoses In Nicaragua, Jenna K. Devchand

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Individuals with disabilities living all over the world are constantly faced with additional barriers. In low-income countries, such as Nicaragua, there is often a gap in access to resources and education, for both individuals living with disabilities and their caregivers. Access is essential to provide high quality care to meet unique needs. This occupational therapy doctoral capstone project was created to support individuals providing care to children with special needs and complex medical diagnoses in Nicaragua by providing community-based education and sustainable resources to caregivers to enhance wellbeing in daily life. The deliverable was presented in country in Nicaragua to …

Cal Poly Humboldt Sea Level Rise Institute Bi-Annual Report June 2023 - June 2025, Adam Canter, Laurie Richmond, Kristen Orth-Gordinier

Local Reports and Publications

Executive Summary: As a core vision, the Cal Poly Humboldt Sea Level Rise Institute (SLRI) “envisions a diverse network of collaborators working together across disciplines, sectors, and ways of knowing to develop sea-level rise research and planning that informs equitable, sustainable, and community-centered local climate action.” The SLRI had two productive academic years from Fall 2023 - Spring 2025 in service of this vision. Key accomplishments included: ● Participation - Over the course of the past two years, participation in the SLRI more nearly doubled from 48 in August 2023 to 84 in July 2025. ○ Participation includes representatives from …

Heart2sleep: A Pilot Study On Safe Sleep Practices To Prevent Suids On The Cardiac Unit At Sjch, Ember M. Carpenter

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone project was completed in collaboration with Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, located in Charleston, South Carolina. The project focused on promoting adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep guidelines through the implementation of a pilot study on the hospital’s cardiac unit. Due to the complex medical needs of infants on this unit, safe sleep practices were often inconsistently followed or adapted. By implementing a pilot study utilizing the PA Safe Sleep Program, this project aimed to enhance knowledge, confidence, and consistency in safe sleep practices among healthcare providers and caregivers. This interdisciplinary initiative involved collaboration …

Social-Emotional Activities To Decrease Problematic Behaviors, Ages 3-5, Michael Perez

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone experience is to implement social-emotional activities into specific classrooms of a local daycare center for preschoolers ages three to five years old that are both easy to implement by the teachers and are well received by the children. The overall goals of this capstone are as follows: To develop social emotional training materials for teachers. To help teachers develop evidence-based strategies to develop social-emotional learning in the classroom. To gain a thorough understanding of the social emotional milestones in children ages three to five and how those behaviors manifest in the classroom to facilitate proficiency …

Nurturing Potential: Building Teacher Capacity To Support Infant Developmentin Low Income Daycares, Jeanae A. Williams

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Nurturing Potential: Building Teacher Capacity to Support Infant Development in Low Income Daycares

Jeanae Williams, OTDS

Faculty Mentor: Kelly McGloon, PhD, OTR/L

ABRSTRACT:

Early childcare centers play a critical role in fostering young children’s learning and development. Each year, approximately 600,000 infants are born at risk for developmental delays, yet less than 50% are identified early. Early detection and support are crucial in reducing long-term developmental challenges and improving outcomes for reaching milestones. This capstone project aims to enhance the capacity of infant classroom teachers in low-income daycare settings by providing education on typical development and increasing awareness of resources …

Enhancing Caregiver Understanding Of Pediatric Spasticity Through Multimodal Educational Resources, Maia Grams

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Spasticity is a highly complex neuromuscular impairment, which can make it a particularly difficult topic for caregivers to fully understand and manage without appropriate support and education. This capstone project was completed at a pediatric outpatient therapy clinic under the mentorship of an occupational therapist who specializes in neuro-related conditions. Following a clinical needs analysis, this project was designed to address a specific need: the limited availability of clear, accessible educational resources related to spasticity for caregivers.

The purpose of the project was to increase access to spasticity-related education by developing multimodal resources that rehabilitation therapists could easily distribute to …

Safe & Steady: A Toolkit For Injury Prevention In Pickleball For Older Adults With Parkinson’S Disease, Morgan T. Shires

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Abstract

Title: Safe & Steady: A Toolkit for Injury Prevention in Pickleball for Older Adults with Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a movement disorder that affects balance, walking, posture, coordination, cognition, and more that can increase the risk of falling. Around 60% of people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD) fall every year for a variety of reasons (Parkinson’s Foundation, 2025). Studies have shown that physical activity not only has a positive impact on symptoms, but exercise has an integral impact on overall wellbeing and quality of life for PwPD (Bispo, et. al, 2024). There are many types of physical …

Improving Home Exercise Program Adherence In Stroke Survivors: Examining Influencing Factors And Developing Educational Resources For A Behavioral Intervention, Megan E. Thompson

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Improving Home Exercise Program Adherence in Stroke Survivors: Examining Influencing Factors and Developing Educational Resources for a Behavioral Intervention

Nearly 800,000 individuals experience a stroke annually in the United States and stroke often results in upper extremity functional limitation which can impact the individual’s ability to perform their activities of daily living. Because of this, home exercise programs are prescribed to facilitate rehabilitation; however, adherence is inadequate which ultimately impacts overall functional recovery. The purpose of this capstone is to enhance understanding of factors that influence home exercise program adherence and to improve upper extremity functional recovery post stroke through …

Occupational Therapy In Oncology: Enhancing Quality Of Life For Head And Neck Cancer Survivors, Anna C. Hildebrand

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This occupational therapy capstone project was completed through collaboration with a site that aims to eradicate cancer through multidisciplinary patient care, innovative research, and education and training. The purpose of the project is to improve the quality of life (QoL) in Head and Neck Cancer survivors through resources created to enhance self-efficacy, symptom management, and overall well-being throughout the cancer trajectory. The project included the goal of furthering the health care team’s understanding of occupational therapy’s role within the cancer population, specifically HNC, by providing these supportive resources. Educational patient handouts were distributed to HNC care providers to then distribute …

History Day, William Deloach

Tenor of Our Times

No abstract provided.

Protestant Resistance And Catholic Resilience: The Notre Dame Riot Of 1924, Jacob Rooney

Tenor of Our Times

On a cool spring morning in 1924, a herd of Notre Dame students crowded the streets outside of the local Ku Klux Klan headquarters. When the students began to attack the hooded Klansmen, a full-scale riot ensued throughout the city. As the rioting began to subside, pro-Klan organizations and newspapers began to broadcast this riot as an attack on both Protestantism and American values. By looking at the responses of Klansmen, the riot and its aftermath can be understood as part of the larger context of American anti-Catholicism. The narrative of the riot helps show us how fear mixed with …

The Key Revolutionary Element: The Development Of Russia’S Military And The Vitality Of The Russian Soldier To Revolution, Max C. Jones

Tenor of Our Times

This paper looks at the substantial role the Russian Military played in the events leading up to and during the February Revolution in 1917 in Russia. It looks at the military history of Russia prior to the February Revolution (from Peter the Great-Nicholas II) and how certain decisions and events in that timespan created a military that was completely unprepared for the total war of WWI. The paper takes closer looks at the Crimean War and the Russo-Japanese War/1905 Revolution, in which significant changes in the military occurred but, as is seen in the outcome of WWI, were not enough …

Dream Of Gangland: The Successful Life And Passing Of Jonny Torrio, Brantley K. Anderson

Tenor of Our Times

Johnny Torrio was one of the most interesting individuals to exist in the field of organized crime in Chicago. There were several factors that contributed to this fascination, not limited to the revenue he obtained through his illicit activities. He would be one of the only gang leaders to survive long enough to die of natural causes, an ending every mob boss would strive for. Historical records and accounts reveal that his mindset around crime, as well as his organizational strategy and interpersonal efforts, are, in part, reasons for his successful life and death. Comparison of other mob bosses of …

Tallgrass Prairie Center 2024-2025 Highlights, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Annual Reports

Contents:

--- Staff
--- From our Director
--- Iowa Roadside Management: Enhancing our public roadsides
--- Research and Restoration: Native seeds and methods for prairie reconstruction
--- Plant Materials: A prairie pedigree for Iowa’s roadsides and beyond
--- Irvine Prairie: Restoring a piece of the original Iowa landscape
--- Prairie on Farms: Making prairie practical
--- Prairie Roots Project: A deeper appreciation of the prairie ecosystem
--- Green Iowa AmeriCorps: Service members expand TPC capacity
--- A Hidden Gem - UNI's Biological Preserves: A legacy of service and partnership
--- UNI Students at the TPC: Practical experience in support of …

Non-Enzymatic Glycoxidation Reports On Society, Environment And Biology To Inform On Enduring Cancer Disparities, Fariha Imtiaz, Boxiao Ding, Bradley A. Krisanits, Katherine A. Walter, Lindsay L. Peterson, Susan Steck, Marvella E. Ford, Gayenell Magwood, Victoria J. Findlay, David Turner

Annual Research Day

Background: Despite advancements in cancer treatment, disparities in incidence and mortality persist among different races and ethnicities. These disparities are influenced by an intricate interplay between environmental, biological and social factors that underscore the need for a multifaceted approach to understand this relationship. Objective/Aim: To show that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) due to non-enzymatic glycoxidation represent informative and functional markers that report on the combined impact of environmental, biological and social factors on enduring cancer disparities. Methods: To address this objective, a more holistic approach to disparities research was used ranging from basic research, population-based investigations, preclinical and clinical …

Learning Curve And Patient Outcomes Of Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: One Surgeon’S 10-Year Experience, Moamad Chehab M.D., Cody Tragesser M.D, Franklin Geroudis M.D., Rebecca Deitch M.D., Anthony Cassano M.D., Rachit Shah M.D.

Annual Research Day

Objective: To examine the learning curve of one surgeon performing minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) over a 10-year period since the beginning of their practice with a focus on patient outcomes. Methods: This is a retrospective study of all patients undergoing MIE for malignancy by one surgeon at an academic high-volume tertiary center over a 10-year period (10/2012 to 9/2022). Patients were stratified into 2 equal groups based on chronological order and termed Early MIE and Late MIE. Primary outcomes included operative measures and patient outcomes over a 1- year period post-operatively. Results: A total of 128 patients were identified, divided …

Annual Report 2023-2024: Student Life & Development, Denise Mcdowell

Annual Reports

Student Life and Development (SLD) professionals at Winona State University (WSU) deliver programs, services, and activities that support students' academic achievement, social development, and well-being in the timely pursuit of their educational goals. The 2023-2024 SLD Annual Report provides information from the following departments: Admissions, Community Engagement, Conduct & Citizenship, Counseling and Wellness Services, Dean of Students, Equity & Inclusion Excellence, Health & Wellness Services, Housing & Residence Life, Integrative Wellness, Student Union & Activities, TRIO Student Support Services, the Warrior Hub, and the Warrior Success Center.

Annual Report 2024-2025: Student Life & Development, Student Life & Development-Winona State University, Denise Mcdowell

Annual Reports

Student Life and Development (SLD) professionals at Winona State University (WSU) deliver programs, services, and activities that support students' academic achievement, social development, and well-being in the timely pursuit of their educational goals. The 2024-2025 SLD Annual Report provides information from the following departments: Admissions, Community Engagement, Conduct & Citizenship, Counseling and Wellness Services, Dean of Students, Equity & Inclusion Excellence, Health & Wellness Services, Housing & Residence Life, Integrative Wellness, Student Union & Activities, TRIO Student Support Services, the Warrior Hub, and the Warrior Success Center.